Training Industry Magazine - Fall 2022 - 21

learners gain the knowledge they need
to thrive in the new world of work -
and feel a greater sense of belonging
along the way. The truth is, the rules
of learner engagement have changed,
and as trainers, we need to adapt.
Hybrid is Changing
the Game for Everyone
As trainers and facilitators in live
settings, we knew how to grab our
audience's attention and keep them
involved in the discussion. Then,
as the world shifted to virtual, we
all quickly pivoted to adjust and reengage
learners in new ways using the
technology at our disposal. Now, we're
exploring how to bring the best of
these two worlds together to ensure all
learners feel seen, heard and engaged
- especially given that learners are
distracted more than ever.
A survey of more than 2,000
Americans found that 54% of those
who had recently switched to remote
work reported being more distracted
at home. Another 29% said they were
more distracted at the office. No matter
where we work, people find it hard to
stay focused.
Not only are learners likely to be
distracted,
they're
also prone to
feeling disconnected from colleagues,
especially in a virtual or hybrid
environment. Some of this is due to the
nature of remote learning itself, which
is less immersive than face-to-face
training. The very technology we use
to interact with learners online creates
a barrier between us and them -
shrinking the facilitator down to a tiny
digital window that dilutes the impact
of their words and gestures.
But the way facilitators use technology
can further alienate learners. Virtual
participants
often
feel
like
an
afterthought in comparison to those
who are in the room. This is especially
true if the presenter isn't actively
monitoring the chat or making eye
contact with the camera lens. Some
participants feel so disconnected
they opt out, turning off their cameras
and disengaging completely. That
Start by thinking about the environment
your participants are in and how you
can make it more conducive to their
learning. How will you greet the inperson
attendee who arrives frazzled
after battling traffic and needs a few
minutes to decompress before diving
in? How do you plan to involve the
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - FALL 2022 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
The Secret to High
Engagement:
Bring the Novelty
When it comes to engaging hybrid and
virtual presentations, predictability is the
enemy. And the way to overcome the
| 21
kind of disengagement doesn't bode
well
for
creating
effective
learning
environments - or inclusive cultures,
for that matter.
Building inclusive and effective hybrid
participant who planned
to come
in-person, but now has to join from
home so they can care for a kiddo
who suddenly got sick? How about
the participant who's logging on from
another country in the dead of night
and struggling mightily to stay awake
by downing their fourth cup of coffee?
It takes
creativity and
effort to craft
training that
people enjoy
attending.
learning experiences is critical because
hybrid is here to stay. In fact, 74% of
U.S. companies are currently using or
plan to implement permanent hybrid
work models. So, the question we
must ask as learning and development
(L&D) professionals is this: How do we
design experiences that truly engage
and involve learners in a hybrid world?
Here are four keys to creating effective
virtual and hybrid learning experiences.
Always Begin
with Empathy
This means putting yourself in the
shoes of your participants. Whether
they are right in front of you or halfway
around the world, are you anticipating
how they may be showing up? Better
yet, are you giving them what they
really need to be successful, regardless
of where they are?
These are very real scenarios. And
it's our job as trainers to think about
the different ways our learners are
showing up so we can meet them
where they are. But we can't stop at
simply putting ourselves in their shoes.
We must strategically build training that
is inclusive, engaging and ultimately
worth their time and attention. And this
means taking the time to ensure you're
developing high-quality content.
There's No Substitute
for Great Content
Duarte has long had its own Golden
Rule: Never deliver a presentation you
wouldn't want to sit through. The same
holds true for training.
When crafting a course, we always ask
ourselves: " Would I want to sit through
this training? Would I be engaged if I
were in the learner's seat? " If not, ask
yourself what would be engaging and
build your material around that.
An easy place to start is by incorporating
storytelling. That's where the content
developers I mentioned earlier realized
they needed to shift. So, they went
back to the drawing board to rewrite
their
material, weaving in personal
experiences, case studies and anecdotes
based on studies and statistics.
Why? Because stories are naturally
engaging. They make training content
stickier by creating novel experiences
that learners will always remember.
https://www.jdp.com/blog/work-from-home-statistics/ https://www.zippia.com/advice/hybrid-work-statistics/ https://www.zippia.com/advice/hybrid-work-statistics/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/content-development/a-tale-of-humor-and-storytelling-for-learner-engagement/ https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine
Training Industry Magazine - Fall 2022

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